North Sydney girl pleads not guilty beating of homeless man

Shawn Kurtis Jack is shown above with his dog, Chico. The 48-year-old homeless man was savagely beaten in his campsite behind the Superstore in North Sydney in July. Charges have been laid against six people in the incident.Submitted photo

SYDNEY — A 16-year-old North Sydney girl charged in connection with a brutal assault on a homeless man entered not guilty pleas Wednesday and will now stand trial in November.

The youth, who cannot be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with aggravated assault, wearing a disguise (a bandana) in committing an offence, and two counts of breaching court orders.

The teen is now scheduled back in court Nov. 28 for trial. She was previously denied bail and continues to be on remand in a youth detention facility.

The girl is among six accused charged with the beating of 48-year-old Shawn Kurtis Jack, who was living in a homemade shelter in a wooded area behind the Atlantic Superstore in North Sydney. The attack occurred July 14.

Also making a court appearance Wednesday was Cory Patrick Richard Blinkhorn, 22, of North Sydney, who is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, wearing a disguise (a bandana) in committing an offence, and falsely representing himself as a police officer.

Blinkhorn is scheduled back in court Sept. 8 for a bail hearing. He continues to be on remand at the Cape Breton Correctional Centre.